Twin Lakes Fence Installation
Cedar privacy and picture-frame fencing for Twin Lakes yards, with the city rules and the HOA approval step explained up front.
A Planned Lake and Golf Community in Federal Way
Twin Lakes is a neighborhood in the west part of Federal Way, built around Lake Lorene, Lake Jeane, and a golf course. It started as a planned community in the 1960s, so many yards were laid out long before today's fence styles.
A fence here usually has to answer three questions: what the City of Federal Way allows, what the Twin Lakes Homeowners Association approves, and what suits a yard near water or a fairway. This guide walks through each one.
Twin Lakes quick facts
| Topic | What to know | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | The Twin Lakes housing community opened in 1965 on Lake Jeane and Lake Lorene. | HistoryLink |
| Lakes | Lake Lorene and Lake Jeane are private lakes. The HOA manages Lake Lorene and the golf club manages Lake Jeane. | Twin Lakes HOA |
| Golf course | The front nine opened in 1967 and the back nine two years later, as part of the planned community. | Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club |
| Schools | Twin Lakes Elementary is part of Federal Way Public Schools. | Twin Lakes Elementary |
Federal Way Fence Rules in Plain Language
These are the city rules we go over with Twin Lakes homeowners before we draw a fence line. Always confirm the details for your parcel with the City of Federal Way.
- Height: the city's zoning code allows fences and railings not over 6 feet in required yards (FWRC 19.125.160).
- Fence on a wall: when a rockery or retaining wall sits within 5 feet of the fence, the combined height is limited to 6 feet, with a narrow safety-rail exception. This matters on sloped lots.
- Sight distance: the code says landscaping and fencing may not violate sight-distance safety requirements at street intersections and driveways.
- Permit: the city lists fences not over 6 feet high as exempt from a building permit, but not when the work is in a critical area such as a wetland, stream, or landslide hazard, or their buffers.
Confirm with the city before you build
Zoning and permit rules change, and your parcel may have extra limits. Read the Federal Way code, Chapter 19.125 and the city's residential permit exemptions, then call the City of Federal Way Permit Center if you are unsure.
Twin Lakes HOA Approval Comes First
Twin Lakes has a homeowners association with an Architectural Control Committee. The HOA says changes to the outside of your property need approval before work starts, and its list includes fences, fence repairs, and re-staining.
What the HOA asks you to submit
- The fence height and length.
- A diagram showing where the fence sits in relation to the property lines.
- The materials and the finish.
- A written request. The HOA asks owners to allow up to 30 days for approval.
The HOA's published rules and regulations also say fencing plans must meet the setbacks in the CC&Rs, that fences may not exceed 6 feet, and that chain-link is not an approved material. Read the HOA's architectural approval page and rules and regulations, and ask the HOA office for the current CC&Rs, because they can change.
MyFence can give you the height, length, material, and finish details the committee asks for, along with a drawing from our on-site measurement. Check whether your address is inside the HOA before you plan.
Lakeside and Golf-Course Lots
Lake Lorene and Lake Jeane sit on the west branch of Joes Creek, according to the City of Federal Way's surface-water analysis. Wet ground near a lake is hard on wood, so the details below matter more than the style.
Near the water
Check your parcel for a critical area or buffer before you plan a fence, since the city's 6-foot permit exemption does not cover work in one. The HOA also publishes a critical areas report for lakeside properties on its lakes page. We use stainless fasteners and can add a post-on-pipe upgrade to keep wood posts out of wet soil.
Along the fairway
If your yard borders the golf course, the HOA's rules note extra setback requirements for fairway lots. A lower, open style such as black hogwire can keep the view, while a cedar privacy fence suits the sides and the street.
Slopes, retaining walls, and rockeries
On a graded lot, the fence and any rockery or retaining wall within 5 feet of it share the city's 6-foot combined limit. We measure grade with Fence Genius so the plan you send to the city and the HOA matches what we build.
Contact Us About Your Twin Lakes, Federal Way Fence
Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Prefer to talk? Call us at (253) 455-1885
Fence Styles That Fit Twin Lakes
Modified Picture Frame
A cedar privacy fence with a framed top and base, a clean look that blends with established homes. It is the style in our recent Federal Way photos below.
View style →Solid Board Cedar
A straightforward six-foot cedar privacy fence for side and rear lines.
View style →Black Hogwire
An open mesh fence in a cedar frame for dog yards and lake or fairway views. Ask the HOA whether it approves the material for your lot.
View style →Cedar & Steel Hybrid
Steel posts with cedar panels for damp areas where you do not want to restain often. Check HOA approval for the materials.
View style →Recent Federal Way Fence Work
These photos are from MyFence jobs in Federal Way. They are not from Twin Lakes, but they show the same crew, materials, and finish we bring to a Twin Lakes yard.
A cedar picture-frame fence with a double gate on a Federal Way job (not in Twin Lakes).
A cedar privacy fence along a side yard on a Federal Way job (not in Twin Lakes).
More Fence Work in Federal Way
These photos are from Federal Way jobs, not specifically from Twin Lakes.
Our Twin Lakes Installation Process
1. Site Assessment
We walk the lot, measure the lines, and note slope, trees, gates, and any lake or fairway edge. Fence Genius captures lengths and grade so panels are built to your yard.
2. Design, City Rules, and HOA Details
You pick the style and height. We go over the city's rules for your lot and give you the height, length, materials, finish, and drawing the HOA committee asks for.
3. Custom Panel Manufacturing
Panels are built off-site from the measurements, so install days are mostly setting posts and hanging finished sections.
4. Installation
We start after any needed approvals are in hand, protect nearby landscaping where possible, and clean up at the end of each day.
5. Walkthrough & 3-Year Warranty
A final walkthrough covers every panel, post, and gate. Our 3-year workmanship warranty starts when the job is complete.
Twin Lakes Fence Installation FAQs
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Twin Lakes, Federal Way?
The City of Federal Way lists fences not over 6 feet high as exempt from a building permit, with an exception for any work in a critical area such as a wetland, stream, landslide hazard, or their buffers. The city also notes that other code requirements may still apply. Check your parcel with the City of Federal Way Permit Center before you build, especially if your lot touches a lake, a stream, or a steep slope.
How tall can a fence be in Twin Lakes?
Federal Way's zoning code allows fences and railings of up to 6 feet in required yards, and it caps the combined height of a fence and a rockery or retaining wall within 5 feet of it at 6 feet, with a limited safety-rail exception. The Twin Lakes Homeowners Association's published rules separately say fences may not exceed 6 feet. Confirm both with the city and the HOA before you choose a height.
Does the Twin Lakes HOA need to approve my fence?
The Twin Lakes HOA says changes to the outside of a property, including fences, repairs, and re-staining, need prior approval from its Architectural Control Committee, and that the committee asks for height, length, materials, finish, and a diagram showing the fence in relation to the property lines. The HOA asks owners to allow up to 30 days for approval. If you live in the community, submit the request before any work starts, and ask the HOA office for the current rules and CC&Rs.
What fence styles work best for Twin Lakes yards?
Six-foot cedar privacy fences, including picture-frame and modified picture-frame builds, are a common fit for side and rear lines. A black hogwire fence with a cedar frame can keep a lake or golf-course view open where you do not need privacy. Hybrid aluminum-and-cedar panels are an option for a damp corner that you do not want to restain often. Chain-link is listed by the HOA as not an approved fencing material, so ask the HOA before you plan anything other than wood.
How long does fence installation take in Twin Lakes?
Many residential fence projects take one to three working days once any needed approvals are in place. Panels are built off-site from Fence Genius measurements, which keeps on-site time short. Tear-out of an old fence, a long run, a sloped lot, or soft ground near a lake can add time. We confirm the schedule with you before the crew arrives.
How much does a fence cost in Twin Lakes?
Price depends on the style, the total length, gates, slope, access, and whether an old fence has to come out. Use the virtual quote tool for a starting number, and we confirm the final price after an on-site measurement.
Discover Twin Lakes
Explore Twin Lakes's Top Attractions & Local Gems
- Olympic View Park: A 9.8-acre City of Federal Way neighborhood park at the crossroads of 29th Ave SW and SW 330th St in the Twin Lakes neighborhood, with parking, a picnic area, a playground, and a walking trail.
- Twin Lakes Elementary School: A Federal Way Public Schools elementary school at 4400 SW 320th St, located in the Twin Lakes neighborhood.
- Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club: A private club whose front nine opened in 1967 and back nine two years later, built as part of the planned community. Yards that border the course often want a fence that keeps the view open.
- Twin Lakes HOA parks and lakes: The Twin Lakes Homeowners Association owns and maintains three parks for its members, including Treasure Island Park on Lake Lorene. Lake Lorene and Lake Jeane are private lakes.
Local Living & Community
Twin Lakes sits in the west part of Federal Way, where homes surround Lake Lorene, Lake Jeane, and the golf course. The neighborhood is served by Twin Lakes Elementary School in Federal Way Public Schools; check the district's boundary tools for the school that serves your address.
For the lakes and the HOA's parks, see the Twin Lakes HOA parks and lakes page. For the neighborhood's early history, see HistoryLink's Federal Way history.
Also Serving Nearby Areas
We install fences throughout Federal Way and South King County.
Ready to Fence Your Twin Lakes Yard?
We'll walk the lot, talk through privacy versus an open view, and give you a quote and the details your HOA committee asks for.